Auto heater



Aug- 27 1929. r B. D.r MGINTYRE 1,725,878

.AUTo HEATER Filed April 19, 1926 aucune/4,0

Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNETVED STATES BROUWER D.

MCINTYRE,

OF MONROE, MICHIGAN.

AUTO HEATER.

Appiiation filed Api-i1 19, 192e. serial No. 103,046.

This invention relates to automobile heaters and more particularly toimprovements 1n that character of heaters-in which the exhaust manifoldand air casing or housing are of a unitary or integral construction.

It has heretofore been proposed, by myself, and by others, tomanufacture an air heater for automobiles in Which, in a Icast metalconstruction, a casing is associated in spaced relation with the exhaustmanifold.y 'Howeveig in actual practice, considerable difficulty hasbeen experienced because of the unequal expansion and contraction of themanifold and casing, with the result that such devices have, in themain, proven to be commercially unsatisfactory because of the structurebecoming cracked or broken due to the strains and stresses impartedthereto because of the aforesaid differences in expansion andcontraction of the parts.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of my present invention toprovide a heater of an integral or unitary cast metal constructionwherein means are provided for effectlng an equal or substantiallyuniform distribut-ion of the heat from the hotter portion of the castingto thecooler portion thereof and further for strengthening orreinforcing that portion of the casting subjected to the more intenseheat so as to prevent this portion of the casting from breaking,cracking or otherwise deteriorating. c

Another object of the invention is to produce a construction in whichthe above mentioned advantages are achieved in a simple and consequentlyeconomical but satisfactory manner and further to provide a constructionwhich may be conveniently molded or cast.

In practicing the present Ainvention the outer ycasing is cast in spacedrelation with the inner element constituting the exhaust manifold and aplurality of longitudinally dis posed spaced webs are provided whichsupport the exhaust manifold in spaced relation to the housing. Thesewebs as designed, extend uninterrupted the entire longitudinal length ofthe inner element or exhaustmanifold and constitute not only radiatingfins or elements for the manifold with which the air may contact forheating the same, but conductors for the heat for conducting a portionof the heat of the exhaust manifold to the outer casing. In addition tothese functions these webs provide means for strengthening the manifoldto prevent distortion or cracking thereof. In addition I propose toemploy a plurality of strengthening ribs projecting with which the aircontacts to effect a moreefficient heating of the same.

Furthermore the inner ribs act as heat collecting fins for gatheringheat from the exhaust gases,

The above and many other objects, advantages and novel details ofconstruction of the invention will be made more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional sideelevation of a motor vehicle equipped with a heater constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially onthe plane indicated by line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on theplane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view .taken substantially on theplane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Referring now particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, it will be-noted that there isfragmentarily illustrated an internal combustion engine provided with aplurality of exhaust ports 11 and I have also illustrated a portion ofthe floor 12 and dash board 13 of the body of the motor vehicle.

The invention contemplates specifically the .use of a unitary orintegral structure 14 reference character 22 is provided for regulatingthe passage of the heated air from the chamber 17 through the registerl20 to the interior of the vehicle. The exhaust ports 11 of the enginecommunicate with registering ports or passages 23 in the casting 14whereby the products of combustion from the engine pass directly int-othe manifold 15. The sleeved rear end 24 of the manifold 15 is conneetedas for instance, by means of a collar to the exhaust pipe 26.

In producing the casting 14 the exhaust manifold 15 and the casing 16are connected by a plurality of longitudinally extending `webs 27 whichextend substantially the entire longitudinal length of the manifold 15and are cast integrally therewith as well as with t-he wall of thecasing 16. While any desired number of these supporting or spacing webs27 may be employed, I have found that the desired degree of ehiciencymay be adtained by using three of such webs arranged adj acent the topand bottom and one side of the manifold 16 as clearly illustrated inFigure 2 of the drawing. Also cast integral with the wall of themanifold 15 and projecting outwardly therefrom are' a plurality ofstrengthening ribs 28. Obviously any number of these strengthening ribsmay be employed but I have als-o found that the number and arrangementof these ribs, illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, proves to beentirely satisfactory. F rom this figure it will be noted that two ofsuch strengthening ribs are associated with each of the webs 27 and arearranged on opposite sides of these webs, it being understood that theseribs extend longitudinally of the manifold 15 and terminate adjacent, ifnot coincident, with the ends of the webs 27. In some types ofinstallations it is desirable, if not necessary, to provide a pluralityof inwardly directed ribs or fins 31, which in addition to strengtheningthe manifold, function to gather heat from the gases and conduct thesaine to the manifold.

Any preferred means for attaching the casting 1st to the engine blocx,with the ports 28 thereof in registration with the exhaust `ports 11,may be employed but in the illustrative embodiment shown herein, bolts29 are shown passing through enlargements or ears on the casting andthrcadedly engaging the engine block.

In operation, air enters the open end 18 of the casing 16 and passeslongitudinally thereof around the exhaust manifold 15 and around andbetween the ribs 28 and webs 27 and thence out through the sleevedportion 19 and the register 2O to the interior of the vehicle. It isassumed, of course, that under these conditions the valve 21 will beopen. The air during its passage through the air passage 17, comes intointimate contact not only with the wall ofthe manifold 15, but with thesurfaces of the webs 27 as well as with the ribs 28 so that it becomesquickly and thoroughly heated. Obviously the exhaust gases dischargedthrough the exhaust ports 11 pass, through the ports 28, to the interiorof the manifold 15 and thence longitudinally thereof and out through thesleeved portion 2e to the exhaust pipe 26.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the webs 27 not only function to support themanifold 15 and casing 16 in a fixed spaced relation but also operate toconduct heat from the manifold 15 to the wall of the casing 16. This hasthe advantage, not only of causing a more uniform expansion andcontraction of these parts but also maintains the wall of the casing 16in a hotter condition so as to effect a more efficient and throughheating of the air contacting therewith. bviously the webs 27 byextending uninterrupted practically the entire length of both themanifold and casing, reinforces and strengthens these parts. ,By formingthese webs the entire longitudinal length of the manifold, liability ofthe same becoming cracked or broken because of the unequal expansion andcontraction of the parts is minimized if not eliminated,

'Ihe reinforcing` ribs 28 in addition to strengthening the manifold 15,and causing a. more equal distribution of the expansion and contractionstrains and stresses imparted thereto, function as radiating ribs thusproviding` a greater heating surface with which the air passing throughthe passageway 17 may contact. Furthermore the ribs or hns 31 functionto reinforce the manifold and to gather and conduct heat thereto.

bvious changes, modification and rearrangement of parts will immediatelysuggest themselves to those skilled in this particular art and inconsequence thereof reservation is made to make such changes as may comewithin t-he purview7 of the accompanying claim.

IWhat I claim as my invention is:

In a heater for motor vehicles, an integral structure comprising anexhaust manifold, a

spaced casing' substantially enclosing said manifold and forn'iingtherewith a passageway, a plurality of longitudinally extending websconnecting the walls of said manifold and casing, and ribs on saidmanifold projecting inwardly and outwardly therefrom on opposite sidesof said webs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BROUWER D. MGINTYRE.

